​The Middlesex
County Prosecutor’s Office currently has a “Veterans Diversion Program”
(hereinafter referred to as VDP), in accordance with N.J.S.A. 2C:43-22,
et seq.

Under the VDP, any active and former military service member (hereinafter
referred to as a “veteran”) who is charged with 3rd or 4th degree
crimes which do not include violence, and who
is suffering from a mental condition, may be eligible for diversion to mental
health and rehabilitative treatment, rather than face traditional criminal
prosecution. (Any exceptions to the requirements for admission will
be determined exclusively by the MCPO on a case-by-case basis.)

In Middlesex County, the VDP is administered exclusively by the County
Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO), and involves intensive supervision and monitoring
of a qualifying veteran’s treatment and progress by an applicable mental health
treatment provider, the Veteran’s Administration (VA), the MCPO, and a
volunteer mentor. Veterans who are approved for admission into the
program will have to regularly attend counseling and, where applicable, receive
mental health and/or substance abuse treatment. These conditions
include, but are not limited to, making restitution where applicable,
refraining from future criminal activity, refraining from use of alcohol or
frequenting locations where alcohol is sold or used, and attendance at required
court proceedings. A veteran who successfully completes the terms
and conditions of the program (which are memorialized in a court order), has
not been the subject of any subsequent criminal charges, and continues to make
progress with mental health and/or substance abuse treatment, may have their
charges dismissed within 6 months to 2 years, depending on the particular
course of treatment and compliance. The Prosecutor (or designee)
retains the sole discretion over who is admitted into VDP, the specific terms
of the admission, and the duration that the defendant is in the VDP.

If you would like to refer a veteran for consideration into MCPO’s VDP program,
please complete the following form and e-mail it to the address noted on the
form itself.​​